urban issues and challenges

Question 1

What is urbanisation?

Answer 1

Urbanisation is the growth in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas.

Question 2

What proportion of the world today live in urban areas?

Answer 2

Over 50%, 3.9 billion people.

Question 3

What are some examples of HIC’s?

Answer 3

HIC - UK, Germany, Japan

Question 4

What are some examples of LIC’S?

Answer 4

LIC - Ethiopia, Nepal, Afghanistan

Question 5

What are some examples of NEE’s?

Answer 5

NEE - Brazil, China, Russia, India

Question 6

Where is the rate of urbanisation the fastest?

Answer 6

The fastest rate of urbanisation is in LIC’s and some NEE’s (varies).

Question 7

Where is the rate of urbanisation the slowest?

Answer 7

The rate of urbanisation is the slowest in HIC’s as everyone is already in urban areas. Due to good transport and communication, urbanisation may be decreasing.

Question 8

What are the push and pull factors for rural-urban migration?

Answer 8

push - natural disasters

• mechanisation of agriculture, so fewer workers needed
• desertification makes land unproductive
• conflict and war

pull - more jobs that are better paid

• access to better health care and education
• to join other family members who have moved
• better quality of life

Question 9

What is a megacity? Give an example.

Answer 9

A megacity is an urban area with more than 10 million people living there. There are 34 today. eg. Mumbai in India. More megacities will emerge soon and rapidly.

Question 10

What are the two main causes of urbanisation?

Answer 10

• rural-urban migration
• natural increase is when the birth rate is higher than the death rate. Young people often move to cities, start families, cause natural increase.

Question 11

What in the past led to rapid population growth in the UK? Give an example.

Answer 11

Mineral wealth, especially of coal and iron ore has led to rapid population growth because this was where industries developed. Many cities were developed on coalfields, like Newcastle and Leeds.

Question 12

What is the population distribution like in upland regions in the UK? Why?

Answer 12

In upland regions such as the north of Scotland are sparsely populated as they are difficult to farm and have few natural resources.

Question 13

What is the biggest city in the UK? Why?

Answer 13

London is the biggest city in the UK with over 8.6 million people, which accounts for 10% of the country’s population. It is the capital and has many industries, like global finance centres.

Question 14

What is the population like in coastal areas in the UK? Why? Give an example.

Answer 14

In coastal areas in the UK, they have attracted human settlement, especially where there are sheltered bays and river estuaries suitable for harbours. Liverpool and Cardiff have developed into major cities.

Question 15

What is the population like in lowland areas in the UK? Why?

Answer 15

Most urban areas have developed in lowland areas as they are easier to build on and have a milder climate.

Question 16

What is the CBD of a city?

Answer 16

The central business district (CBD) of a city is usually in the middle. It has its main public buildings, train and bus stations, hotels, shops, offices, restaurants and entertainment facilities. They are often surrounded by a ring road.

Question 17

What is a suburb?

Answer 17

The suburbs are found towards the edge of the city. They are mainly residential areas with semi-detached houses. There is usually short, curved streets and cul-de-sacs.

Question 18

What is the rural-urban fringe of a city?

Answer 18

The rural-urban fringe is on the edge of the city. It has farmland, open spaces, new housing developments and large retail and business parks. There are fields with built up areas; a mix.

Question 19

What is the inner city area used for?

Answer 19

inner city area:

• mainly residential (old terraced houses, modern housing built in redevelopment programmes)
• some businesses and recreational parks
• lots of short, parallel roads
• terraced housing

Question 20

What does sustainability mean?

Answer 20

Sustainability means doing things that benefits people now and allows people in the future to meet their needs

Question 21

What are four ways in which urban cities can live sustainably?

Answer 21

• water conservation
• energy conservation
• creating green space
• waste recycling

Question 22

What are four water conservation schemes to make sustainable urban living?

Answer 22

water conservation schemes:

• collecting rainwater for use on gardens or flushing toilets
• installing toilets that use less water to flush
• installing water meters so people pay for the water they use
• encouraging people to use less water (eg. turning off taps more often)

Question 23

What are three energy conservation schemes to make sustainable urban living?

Answer 23

energy conservation schemes:

• promoting renewable energy
• making sure new homes meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements
• encouraging people to use less energy (eg. turning off lights)

Question 24

What are five benefits of creating green spaces to make sustainable urban living?

Answer 24

creating green spaces:

• provide naturally cooler areas
• encourage people to exercise more
• make people happier with a break from the busier side
• reduce the risk of flooding by reducing surface run off from rain
• reduce air pollution

Question 25

What are some waste recycling schemes to make sustainable urban living?

Answer 25

waste recycling schemes:

• decomposing landfill releases greenhouse gases
• landfill is unsustainable as it wastes resources that could be recycled
• collection of household recycling boxes
• recycling facilities for larger items
• websites (eg. freecycle) where items are offered for free and can be used by others instead of thrown away

Question 26

What are the problems caused by traffic congestion?

Answer 26

traffic congestion problems:

• increases air pollution
• late for work and delays deliveries, lose money
• higher chance of accidents, frustration, delays emergency vehicles

Question 27

Give four examples in the UK where public transport helps with traffic congestion.

Answer 27

public transport:

• Docklands Light Railway connects east London with the city centre, used by 110 million each year
• Underground takes 3 million a day
• self serviced bikes
• ‘Oyster Cards’ allow easy travel by buses, trains and the Underground

Question 28

Give six ways in which traffic flow can be managed.

Answer 28

managing traffic flow:

• ring roads and pedestrianised shopping streets keep traffic away from the city centre
• bus priority lanes make buses seem better
• parking restrictions make sure parked cars don’t block traffic flow
• congestion charges at peak times
• carpool
• promoting flexible working hours to spread out traffic